Chain link having identification and a replacement gauging means



July 21, 1959 w. H. DEVONSHIRE ET AL 2,

- CHAIN LINK HAVING IDENTIFICATION AND A REPLACEMENT GAUGING MEANS Filed Feb. 13, 1957 INVENTORS. Williczmli Devonshzm BY Edward R. Belmka CBLM,W,MVQM

ATTORNEYS United States Patent CHAIN LINK HAVING IDENTIFICATION AND A REPLACEMENT GAUGING MEANS William H. Devonshire, Williamsville, and Edward R.

Behnke, Lockport, N.Y., assignors to Columbus Mc- Kinnon Chain Corporation, Tonawanda, N.Y.

Application February 13, 1957, Serial No. 639,965

1 Claim. (Cl. 59-90) This invention relates generally to chains, and more specifically to a new and useful method of permanently marking chains for purposes of visual identification and to a chain so marked.

Quite frequently, chain is made of special materials and/or otherwise constructed for a particular purpose to meet certain safety standards, and the like, whereby a person using the chain and depending on its particular characteristics must be certain at all times during the life of the chain that the particular chain in use is in fact one which possesses the requisite characteristics. At the same time most chain of the same size and shape, whether or not possessing added strength or other special characteristics, has the same general appearance particularly after it has been in use for a time, whereby it is essential that special chain be marked in some manner so as to readily and positively identify the same.

It has been the practice simply to attach identifying tags to the chain, or to print symbols thereon, but these are quickly and easily destroyed in use and then no longer serve their intended purpose. Tests necessary to deter mine whether a certain chain is of conventional or special manufacture cannot be made in the working area, and result in added expense and inconvenient delay when they must be resorted to.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide chain identification means sufficiently permanent in nature to readily, visually identify any particular chain during its effective life.

A chain link marked in accord with the instant invention is characterized by the provision of depressed areas in a side leg portion of a chain link on opposite sides of the link, and identifying embossments formed on that side member portion in the depressed areas.

The method of marking chain in accord with the instant invention is characterized by deforming a side leg portion of a chain link under pressure to form depressed areas therein on opposite sides thereof, and simultaneously forming raised identifiying indicium in such areas.

The foregoing objects, advantages and characterizing features of the instant invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof, considered together with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a chain link marked for purposes of identification in accord with this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing there is shown a chain link, generally designated 5, which in use will comprise one of a plurality of similar links permanently interjoined to form a strand of chain. Link 5, like the ohter links in the strand is formed from a blank of wire which can be of special alloys adapted to meet certain standards of strength, safety or the like, as the case may be. The blank is initially bent to the substantially oval form illustrated in the drawing and then, after the formed blank has been engaged with the formed blanks ice of adjacent links, the opposite ends thereof are joined as by welding, as indicated at 6. Thus, the complete finished link comprises a pair of substantially straight side portions 7 and 7 joined at the opposite ends thereof in spaced apart relation by curved-end members 8. As thus described, link 5 resembles any conventional chain link, with no visual indication that it is special. In marking link 5 in accord with this invention, the straight side portion 7' of the finished link, comprising the side portion not containing weld 6 which is in side 7, is compressed and thereby deformed, as by engaging the same between opposed pressure dies, not illustrated, having pressure contact portions contoured to form opposed, depressed areas or flats 9 in side portion 7 on opposite sides of link 5.

Flats 9 are symmetrical, comprising concave depressions of generally ovoid form in plan view having their major axes lying within the body of side portion 7 in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis thereof, and both flats are formed by a single pressure thrust. Pressure dies suitable for this purpose are well known, and the requisite contour of the pressure contact surfaces thereof is obvious from the foregoing, whereby illustration and specific description thereof are not essential to an understanding of the invention.

Further in accord with this invention, symbols comprising raised lettering 10 or other embossed indicia are formed in the depressed areas 9 simultaneously with the forming thereof in side portion 7 this being accomplished by providing the contoured portions of the pressure dies with the corresponding symbols engraved therein. The engraved marks on the dies will receive a portion of the material of link 5 during the above deforming of side portion 7' thereof to produce flats 9, whereby there will be formed simultaneously with flats 9 embossed representations of the engraved marks upon the surfaces of the hats 9 to comprise an integral part of the link.

Thus, identifying indicia in the form of raised lettering or the like are formed within depressed areas 9 on opposite sides of link 5, as shown at 10, and being embossed on the finished link, to comprise part of the material thereof in integral relation therewith, the markings 10 are permanent in nature. Markings 10 are further protected by being sheltered within the depressed areas 9 so that preferably they do not exceed, in height, the depth of depressions 9, whereby they do not extend above the opposite side surfaces of link 5.

In this way, a permanent visual identification, lasting beyond the effective life of the chain, is readily and relatively inexpensively provided, it being understood that certain links of strands of chain will carry such markings so that the user thereof can tell at a glance, at any time throughout the elfective life of the chain, whether it possesses the requisite special characteristics.

Of course, the markings 10 can comprise any desired symbols, and need not be identical. If desired, one side can bear a trade-mark while the other carries a code number or the like, etc.

Also, by making the maximum depth of each depressed area 9 equal to one half the estimated wear allowance of 7 each curved end portion 8, where most of the wear and strain occurs, a visual indication is provided giving warning when the chain has reached the end of its effective life. In other words, the middle portions of areas 9 are formed to depths below the respective opposite sides of link 5 such that the remaining stock thickness across the middles of the depressed areas corresponds to the minimum allowable stock thickness at each end portion 8 measured along the major axis of link 5 in Fig. l and at an elevation midway between the opposite sides of link 5 in Fig. 2. Thus, when either of curved end portions 8 has worn to a thickness approximating the thickness of link side portion 7 between opposed flats 9, which is readily determined at a glance by visual comparison thereof, or by I simple measurements, the chain has'about reached the end of its useful, effective life and the user is unmistakably warned thereof.

It will be noted that side portion 7"is' increased in its lateral dimension in the region of flats 9, with the minor axes of the-flats 9 extending-transversely beyond theopposite sides of the side portion-7. However, no stresses are raised in link 5 during this forming operation, and this increased transverse section has a tendency to strengthen, not weaken, the chain.

Accordingly, it is seen that this invention fully accomplishes the above objects, and while only a presently preferred embodiment has been disclosed and described herein, it will be understood that variations and modifications will readily occur to-those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having fully disclosed and completely described our invention, together with its mode of operation, what we claim as new is:

In a chain link having generally straight side portions joined at the opposite ends thereof by curved end portions, one of said side portions containing a weld, the other of said side portions including identifying means, said identifying means comprising concave depressions formed on opposite sides of said other side portion between said curved end portions, said depressions having a generally ovoid plan view configuration with their major axes lying within the body of said other side portions in substantial alignment with each other and with the longitudinal axis of said other side portion, the minor axes of said depressions extending laterally beyond the lateral sides of said other side portion, identifying symbols embossed in said depressions, said symbols being of a height substantially equal to the depth of the associated depression whereby the outermost surfaces of the symbols are substantially flush with an adjacent one of said opposite sides, the center depths of said depressions being such that the stock thickness between the central portions of the depressions comprises a built-in measurement corresponding to the minimum allowable stock thickness of each of said curved end portions to indicate by visual. comparison with or measurement of the relative thickness of said curved end portions and said stock thickness the attainment of maximum allowable wear and the end of the useful life of said link for its intended purpose.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 510,238 Breul Dec. 5, 1893 878,989 Newhall Feb. 11, 1908 2,426,066 St. Pierre Aug. 19, 1947 2,650,470 Sennholtz Sept. 1, 1953 2,708,823 Sheehan May 24, 1955 2,763,768 Coffey Sept. 18, 1956 

